Raptors coach facing a juggling job as team injuries pile up

Guelph Mercury

Alan Anderson hobbled out of the practice court on crutches, his left foot encased in a boot. Kyle Lowry was off somewhere getting a further examination of his sprained right ankle. And coach Dwane Casey was trying to figure out just what he’s going to do.

“We have to be creative,” he said.

That’s after he gets over the frustration that’s settling in.

There is no way Anderson will be able to play when Toronto faces the Jazz at the Air Canada Centre on Monday night and since Lowry hasn’t practised or played since he was hurt last Tuesday, it’s doubtful he can return.

Jose Calderon will once again move into Lowry’s spot if need be but finding a small forward to start is a bit more dicey. Landry Fields remains out with a right hand injury — he’s due to see a specialist early this week — and it’s going to be either Linas Kleiza or Dom McGuire who fills that spot.

Both are serviceable — McGuire’s a better passer and facilitator, Kleiza’s a better shooter — but it’s just another issue Casey has to deal with.

McGuire may become a more significant factor aside from his small forward role.

With Lowry out, Calderon carries the bulk of the point guard duties with John Lucas III moving from third-stringer to backup.

Not only is Lucas mired in a shooting slump, he’s not adept enough at running the offence to suit anyone; as Casey put it Sunday, he’s more of a shooting guard/point guard than point guard/shooting guard.

Casey may have to massage minutes to make sure McGuire’s on the court with Lucas so McGuire can do some ball-handling to allow Lucas to play off the ball.

“He’s probably going to help out with that second unit,” Casey said of McGuire. “He’s an excellent ballhandler.”

But aside from backcourt woes — and the Raptors have got nothing from the small forward spot all season — there needs to be some consistency up front, as well.

Ed Davis, who was the team’s best big man through training camp and the pre-season, has seen his play fall off dramatically in the last week after an excellent outing a week ago against Minnesota.

“Since then, I don’t know; he hasn’t been the same since,” Casey said of Davis.

It’s left the coach unable to count on anyone, meaning he has to mix and match in games, trying to find a combination that works, or a player he can count on.

“I’ve got a good rotation in mind, you have to get performance,” he said.